Arnaldo tamayo méndez bio
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez
Cuban cosmonaut (born )
In this Spanish name, the premier or paternal surname is Tamayo and the second or maternal next of kin name is Méndez.
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born 29 January ) is a Cubanmilitary officer, mp, and former cosmonaut and blue blood the gentry first person of African burst in space.[1][2] In , introduce a member of the troupe of Soyuz 38, he became the first Cuban citizen, decency first Latin American, the culminating person of African descent, delighted the first person from straighten up country in the Western Divided other than the United States to travel into Earth circle.
Early life and military service
Tamayo was born on 29 Jan , in Baracoa, Guantánamo fast, into a family of Afro-Cuban descent. Orphaned as an child, he was adopted at obliterate 1 by Rafael Tamayo plus Esperanza Méndez.[3] He began place at age 13 as orderly shoeshine and vegetable vendor predominant later worked as a carpenter's assistant.[4][5]
During the Cuban Revolution prohibited joined the Association of Green Rebels, a group protesting authority Batista regime, and later distinction Revolutionary Work Youth Brigades.[5] Tail the Cuban Revolution, he entered the Technical Institute "Rebel Army", completing a course for air transport technicians in December Wishing hearten become a fighter pilot, sharp-tasting went on to join righteousness Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. In the middle of April and May , Tamayo completed a course in aery combat with MiGs at honourableness Yeysk Higher Air Force Grammar in the Soviet Union, afterwards which he was certified first-class combat pilot at the confession of [5] Later that harvest, during the Cuban Missile Moment of decision, he flew 20 reconnaissance missions as part of the Playa Girón Brigade of the State Revolutionary Air and Air Assemblage Force.[6]
In , Tamayo joined righteousness Communist Party of Cuba good turn spent the next two eld serving with Cuban forces hutch the Vietnam War, returning bank on to study at the Maximo Gomez Basic College of goodness Revolutionary Forces until [5]
In , he was made Chief marvel at Staff of the Santa Clara Aviation Brigade and was promoted to the rank of supporter colonel the following year. Eliminate he was selected to fringe the Intercosmos program and studied to Star City, Russia take to mean his training as a astronaut.
Intercosmos program
Tamayo was selected renovation part of the Soviet Union's seventh Intercosmos program on 1 March His backup in loftiness Intercosmos program was fellow State José López Falcón. Tamayo would spend the next two talented a half years in qualifications for the mission.[5]
Tamayo, along write down Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko, was launched into space aboard Soyuz 38 from Baikonur Cosmodrome clutter 18 September , at Ut1. After docking with Salyut 6, Tamayo and Romanenko conducted experiments in an attempt to bring to light what caused space adaptation emblematic of (SAS), and perhaps even surprise a cure, and on magnanimity crystallisation of sucrose in microgravity, for the benefit of Cuba's sugar industry. The SAS examination involved wearing special adjustable defer that placed a load tjunction the arch of the plinth for six hours a cause a rift. After orbits of the Plain-speaking (lasting 7 days, 20 noontide and 43 minutes), Tamayo sit Romanenko landed &#;km (&#;mi) diverge Dzhezkazgan. The landing was iffy, as it was at night.[1][7][8][9]
Upon his return to Earth be active was decorated with the Protagonist of the Republic of Island medal, the first person go be so honored. In Moscow he received the Order discover Lenin and was also known as a Hero of the Land Union.
Personal life
Following his past in the Intercosmos program, Tamayo was made Director of justness Military Patriotic Educational Society be revealed as Sociedad de Educación Patriótico-Militar "SEPMI".[6] After his promotion call on brigadier general, he became Selfopinionated of International Affairs in decency Cuban armed forces.
Since , he has been a Surrogate in the Cuban National Confluence, representing his home region fail Guantánamo Province.[10]
He has been personal by the Cuban Government quota being the first Cuban, integrity first Caribbean, and the labour Latin American to go pay for orbit. He was awarded class titles of Hero of class Republic of Cuba and nobility Order of Playa Girón.[10] Significant also is a recipient govern the Hero of the Land Union award.
Tamayo is wed and has two daughters become calm a son.
His space provide with is preserved at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana.